Pizza good morning.
Today a show of inspiration with people near and far who share their gifts and talents to shine a light for others.
For the past 23 years...sonya baldwin has worked at the hardee's here in columbus and became well known for her incredible smile and ability to brighten anyone's day.
So members of the community decided to return the favor, presenting her with a certificate for a spa day and nearly two thousand dollars this morning.
Wcbi news reporter stephen pimpo was there to witness it and brings us the heartwarming story.
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Hardee's employee sonya baldwin is famous in columbus for bringing joy to everyone she meets.
And with the holiday season well underway...a group of her satisfied customers decided it was time they return the favor.
"i cannot think of person that is more deserving than she is."
Over 100 people came together to raise enough money to give sonya spa day as well as 17 hundred dollars.
A group gathered outside the resturaunt wednesday morning to surprise her with the gifts.
"i didn't have n idea.
Espescially $1700?
I didn't have no idea.
The spa was what i needed but this is just icing on the cake."
Su: sonya has manned this drive through window for over 20 years...helping the people of columbus start their mornings with a smile.
"it's just hard t find people like that.
That touches everybody they come in contact with."
Columbus resident kathy perritt came up with the idea after seeing so many people on social media talking about what a special person sonya is.
"never in a millio years did i think it would take off like it did."
Sonya left with tears of joy after receiving her gifts,which included all the wonderful things people had to say about her on social media.
"she's so kind an put a smile on my face real quick...she's just the most precious soul.
I mean, it just goes on and on."
I just can't believe it."
"the world need more people like sonya."
In columbus...stephen pimpo...wcbi news to give you an idea of exactly the type of person sonya is...she told us that she plans on using at least some of that money to bless someone else in need.
We all have our favorite comfort food.
One virginia woman certainly does.
And she spends most of her time sharing her comfort with others.
11 51 30 your meat and cheese right each volunteer has a task - nats 11 51 41 hannah you are sauce and noodle each layer perfectly placed - 11 51 55 your just gonna paint it a little bit 12 11 28 we are doing 70 today nats 12 19 05 pot lid it's all hands on deck inside the kitchen of the women's club of norfolk - 12 10 22 i love making lasgna lasagna is lots of love so i said you know hat love and lasagna sam peavy is the lasagna lady - 12 09 09 i just sorta saw pans coming out of the sky in october she had an italian inspiration of sorts - 12 09 09 i just sorta saw pans coming out of the sky she's partnered with the womens club and the norfolk fire department to serve up 1,000 cheesy, nats cheese 11 46 54 meaty pasta perfections to people in need before the end of the month.
12 09 19 id like for everyone in va or in our community anyway to have lasagna for the holidays to have something warm or some type of cetnerpiece to conversate heal whatever htey need it for standup - this isnt sam's first stint in the kitchen, she's been cooking lasagna for more than 25 years, pefecting more than 4000 recipes.
12 16 08 there is a scripture love they neighbor now people getting to know there neighborhood getting to know neighbor one woman's mission to serve up cozy warm, layers of love this holiday season - 12 16 18 what netter way to have this square piece of love in the middle of that conversation you never know what someone else is going thru nats closing sing spices 11 48 01 in norfolk cd news 3 if you are missing a delivery, you can only hope you have a guardian package angel like rachel.
Because of this georgia woman, christmas will find its way to the intended recipients.
It was a pretty typical day at home for rachel griener monday.
"i was cleaning m house and the amazon van pulls up.
He pulls up like every day at my house, so i was like, 'great!'" but when he didn't come to her door and then quickly pulled away.
Rachel noticed something strange.
"there were al these packages under the majestic oak, which is the giant tree across from my house."
More than a dozen packages, addressed to people all over savannah, abandoned.
Leaving rachel more than a little confused.
"i walked outsid thinking, 'is this a publicity stunt?
What's happening?'" but of course, it wasn't.
So, rachel called amazon, and after being passed around for a while.
"i got transferre several times."
She finally got her answer.
"if nobody come to pick them up from amazon in 48hrs you can have the items. so, keep them on donate them."
An answer she didn't like.
"i was like, 'that' not going to work for me.'" so, she took it into her own hands, posting a picture and the names from the packages to social media.
And before she knew it the responses were rolling in, and the packages were rolling out.
"people starte coming and picking them up and it was great.
They were like, 'oh this is my neighbor, this is my neighbor.'
People were just good and helpful."
Rachel happily standing guard.
"you know, i had m glass of wine and it was fine, so i just stood there until they were gone."
And in a year that has gotten the best of many of us.
"2020 has bee brutal so i can definitely see where he was having the kind of day where he wanted to throw packages out the window."
Perhaps the biggest gift we can give is a little compassion and some faith in each other.
"i think people ar generally good and if we can assume that about one another maybe we'll have a better 2021.
In savannah sam bauman wtoc news.
When we come back, how science, math, technology and engineering landed
